Ireland overcome resilient Argentina to secure narrow triumph in Dublin

Jack Crowley led the charge, scoring 12 points with a try, drop goal, and two conversions, while Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy also crossed the try line. Tomas Albornoz was perfect for Argentina, converting four penalties and one try, but it wasn't enough to keep the Pumas in the game.

Ireland looked to apply pressure early on after a charge down following the restart but Argentina forced a turnover and cantered upfield with Argentina winger Bautista Delguy beating several defenders before Matias Moroni crossed the whitewash. However, the try was chalked off after Moroni was judged to have tackled flyhalf Crowley high and was sent to the sin bin.

Andy Farrell's charges quickly pounced and made the most of the man advantage as they struck from the resulting lineout with Rónan Kelleher powering off the back of a slick lineout move and moments later it was Crowley who forced his way over for his first-ever Test try which he duly converted.

Ireland scored their second try in just six minutes when Garry Ringrose tore through the defence after a spilt ball and raced into the Argentina 22. Jamison Gibson-Park whipped a wide pass to Tadhg Beirne who unselfishly passed in side to Hansen to score his first try of the year after making his return from injury against New Zealand a week ago.

Albornoz converted a penalty moments before Moroni returned from his sin-binning to make it 12-3, and soon it was Ireland's turn to go down a man as tighthead prop Finlay Bealham was sent to the sidelines for a croc roll on his opposite number Joel Sclavi, allowing Albornoz to add another penalty.

Ireland's response came through Crowley again as the pivot nailed a drop goal to cancel out Los Pumas' penalty on 21 minutes. Kelleher ran an obstruction line four minutes later, allowing Albornoz another shot at reducing the lead and he duly took it.

McCarthy barged over for Ireland's third when they were back to 15 men as James Lowe snuck through the smallest of holes after a lineout and the second rower crashed over as Ireland went 22-9 up after 32 minutes.

Argentina applied the pressure in the final moments of the half twice coming close to scoring a late try but were denied once by the bounce of the ball and another time by Beirne holding up the ball carrier, a turnover with the clocking going red denied the visitors as Ireland held a 13 point advantage at the break.

After the break, it was the Pumas who drew first blood as Mallia scathed through the initial defence before racing into the Ireland 22 and skinned Hansen with a superb step to score the South American side's first try of the game and cut the lead to six points. Ireland were put under the pump in the early knockings of the second half and McCarthy paid the price after he was caught offside and was sent to the bin. From the resulting penalty, Albornoz made it a three-point game.

Momentum looked to have swung in Los Pumas' favour after a crucial late turnover but that was undone by a horrid Francisco Gomez Kodela clearout that resulted in the replacement prop being yellow-carded.

Ireland again went on the offensive but were denied by another breakdown pilfer giving the Pumas another shot at a famous victory, but Contepomi's charges came up short despite working their way deep into the hosts' 22 but they were shut out as the clock went into the red.

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